Do you know how much it takes to start a business? The number might shock you, as it is estimated to be around $30,000. This is just the first of many challenges that startups face. That being said, startups need to use all the tools at their disposal to stay on top of their game and bring in the desired revenue. Even though many different startup marketing strategies could help you in your effort to become a bigwig in your industry, there are a few that actually work – and don’t cost a lot. Because as a brand new business, the last thing you can afford is a ridiculously expensive marketing strategy that just might give good results – but there are no guarantees.
Rely on social media to get you started
There are many different tools that you can use in your brand-new business, with social media being one of the most powerful and important ones. We are all witnesses as to how many aspects of our lives take place on different online platforms nowadays. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are goldmines that are just waiting to be explored. The best part about making social media one of your primary marketing strategies is that you might not even have to spend a dime unless you decide to hire a person who will take care of content creation for you.
And when it comes to the exact purpose of social media, you can use these platforms to build a community of potential customers and connect with the existing ones. Besides, this is a great way to work on your startup visibility in different parts of the world, as social media platforms are available in almost every nook and cranny worldwide.
You can’t go wrong with SEO
Search Engine Optimization has become one of the most frequently used marketing strategies for big and small businesses. SEO helps your business gain better online visibility by helping you rank better in Google’s search results. So if you are already spending your time creating social media content and quite possibly articles for the blog section of your website, then you might as well spend some time learning the basics of SEO. Admittedly, learning all the ins and outs of these practices can become quite complicated. However, it can only be assumed that you are willing to invest in your business, whether that investment includes time, effort, or money.
You really don’t stand anything to lose by making SEO one of your main marketing strategies for your startup. You’ll have to be consistent, write high-quality content, invest work into the process, and wait for good results. However, you shouldn’t expect to see overnight success. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint, meaning that it takes some time for the strategy to work.
PPC ads as one of your main startup marketing strategies
PPC and SEO are two closely tied practices. They both revolve around keywords. Pay-per-click ads are used to drive traffic to a specific website so that you are essentially buying visits to your website instead of achieving them organically. There’s nothing wrong with getting a little boost, especially as a brand-new business. Now, you must be thinking that paid ads are expensive – too expensive for your modest budget. The truth is that PPC ads can come with a hefty price tag in case you are targeting high-traffic head keywords, but they can also cost as little as one dollar per day for particular ads.
We don’t blame you if you don’t know a lot about PPC ads and if you don’t want to learn about them. The truth is that you don’t have to know the specifics of a PPC campaign if you don’t mind hiring companies such as HypeLife Brands for the service. Many agencies on the market will gladly help you market your startup through services that include content strategy development and PPC campaigns management.
Seriously think about a referral program
Think about what it is that makes you buy a product. Would you rather buy a product that your friend has recommended or the one you saw marketed online? If this recommendation comes from a trusted friend, it’s easy to see what any person would do. Research shows that people are four times more likely to purchase a product that has been recommended to them by a friend, neighbor, or colleague. That’s why you need to make your customers do the actual marketing for you.
Establishing a referral program is one of the most effective startup marketing strategies every business should consider. You can give your current customers all types of incentives if they recommend a new customer, and the rewards can range from discounts to free trials and cash rewards. It all depends on how much you are willing to invest in a referral program.
We all know how much people appreciate online reviews nowadays as they are a clear indication of how satisfied or unsatisfied people have been with your products. That being said, if you are planning to include a referral program and a customer testimonial section, make sure they are prominent on your website. That will signal to people that you have nothing to hide, which definitely can’t hurt your new and growing business.
The bottom line
If you have decided to take a leap of fate and start your own business, then you have a lot of work ahead. Among other things, you need to ensure that your startup marketing strategies are effective and up-to-date. We are guessing that you are trying to have a profitable year, whether this is your first, second, or third year in the business. Just focus your efforts on marketing your business in the right way, and you’ll probably have more success than what you are dreaming of at the moment.
